The Portland daily press., 1887-02-12
Fixing the Responsibility.


The Hon. Thomas b. Reed Of Maine was
punctually in his place in the House of Rep
resentatiyes Wednesday morning, as our re-
port of the proceedings showed, and more
pleasing instance of the right man in the
right place at the right time we don't at this
moment recall.
He interfered painfully with the Demo-
cratic arrangements, though. The candle
end and cheese pairing economists had things
all nicely fixed for the reception and dispo-
sition Of the Senate ordnance and coast-de-
fense bills. "The programme" writes the
Philadelphia Presss correspondent, "had
been to bury the whole matter quietly. When
the bills were brought over from the Senate
they were to be referred to the appropria-
tions committee, and once there Mr. Ran
dali, with his capacity for inventing excuses
for delay, was to be relied on to let the ses-
sion end without their temperance. When
they came up this wednesday, morning and
were read by the clerk the speaker. as ex-
pected, was ready to eonfne them to Mr.
Randall keeping, and was Just about to
pronounce the sentence"
just there Mr.. Reed came In as a disturb
ing element. He blandly asked unanimous
consent for the immediate consideration Of
the first Of the bills-the bill to encourage
the manufacture of steel for naval ordnance.
At once there was a cOmmotion on the Dem
ocratic side. Mr. Randall and several other
gentlemen jumped to their feet. Mr.. Hol-
man Dem.) piped out, II object" Mr.. Reed
called for the reading Of the bill, as he had
right, to do, and at the close Of the reading
asked that Monday OF next week be
set apart by unanimous consent for
its consideration. Amid increased
agitation, Mr. Eden (Dem) Of
Illinois, "his hands whirling IN the air above
his head" objected, and the Speaker am
nounced that the bill would be referred
under the rules TO the committee on apprO-
priations-Mr. RandalfS committee. Mr..
Reed was on his feet again instantly with
question. Would the committee have the
right to report the bill ut any timer Mr:
Speaker answered that IL would. MIR. Reed
blandly suggested that, in view OF the I'M
portance of the bill an early report would be
desirable. Mr.. Randall said, with an ap-
pearance of irritation, that the committee
would report when 1t got ready. But Mr..
Reed Is man not easily snubbed or brow
beaten, and he went right ahead In
a very neat and workmanlike manner
with the work in hand. The economists
squirmed and struggled and sried TO force him
of the floor" writes the Press's correspond
ent, "but he kept right on in spite OF them,
and finally, amidst cheers from the Repnb-
licans, compelled three separate statements
from the speaker that the Democratic appro-
priations committee had entire control over
the measures and could allow fair discussion
or smother them as they saw III"
Well done, Mr.. Reedl If those bills fail to
become law, the people will know where the
responsibility for the failure belongs.
The Republican Senate has done It's
duty In the premises 1t has acted
in the same spirit of enlightened
patriotism which prompted Mr.. Tilden, with
the shadow Of death already upon him, Il
write his memorable letters to Speaker Car
Isle and General Hawley II is now for the
Democratie House to decide whether 1t will
follow In this matter the lead Of Mr.. Tilden
or of Mr.. Randall